Ampul sealing machine



Jam 1932. F. c. DE LANO AMPUL SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 30, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN TOR.

7M 6. 01M (a r A TToRNE Jan. 5, 1932. F. c. DE LANO 1,839,654

AMPUL SEALING momma Filed Oct. 50, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 10 4 5 J2 I. n

Jan. 5, 1932.- I F. 0. DE LANO 1,839,654

' AMPUL SEALING MAQHINE Filed Oct; ,30, 1929 3 Shets-Sheet 3 2F? 7 is K m. A

, gm 6. cbZVENTOR.

ATToRNEfl Patented Jan. 5, 1932 Pa e Fries FRED C. DE LAND, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA AMPUL SEALING MACHINE Application filed October 30, 1929. Serial No..403,551.

This invention relates to and has for a principal object the provision of'means for.

automatically fusing and sealing the open ends of ampuls which are usually employed as containers for chemical, pharmaceutical and biological products for lntramuscular and intravenous administration.

In the consideration of this invention it will be understood that heretofore it has been customary to seal ampuls manually ,by the employment of a Bunsen burner, or other type of gas burner. and such operations require the individual handling of-the ampuls. The manual operations are necessarily slow, expensive, and not productive of uniform results. It is an object of this invention, there fore to provide a machine arranged to-successively and automatically move ampuls to and from sealing position and for holding the ampuls stationary at sealing position one after the other for a time sufiicientlylong to efilciently seal the endsthereof; 1

Another object is to provide means for adapting the mechanism to the sealing of am puls of different size.

A more detailed object of invention is to provide one or more intermittently rotatable units each of which is adapted to receive and rotatably support a plurality of ampuls, and

" means connected with a source of power for intermittently rotating said units bodily and for continuously rotating the ampuls of each unit for the purpose of'presenting dlfierent portions of the ampul stem-or neclrto the flame of a burner m order that the necks may be uniformly sealed. s s

rner. ObjGCt-S include means for ad ust ng the mechanism corresponding to the he ghts or the different ampuls and forholdmg each of the ampuls in succession in seallngposition for a given period of time; together with means for varying the sealing intervals as may be desired. I 1

Still other objects may appear as the description progresses. V I

in the accompanying drawings I-have shown a preferred form ofmy invention, sub-' ject to modification within the scope of the oendcd claims without departing from the Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of the machine on line 11 of Fig. 2..

Fig. '2 is a transverse sectional of the machine on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3:is a sectional plan on line 33 of Fig. 2. r

Fig.:4-is a fragmentary end View of the mechanism on line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5'is a transverse section of one of the ampul' socket members-taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

6 is an. enlarged end elevation of one of the burners. I

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of the machine on line 77 of Fig. 2 showing means for'simultaneously elevating two or more of' the sealing units to a common extent.

Fig. 8 is an end view' of the mechanism as seen on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same online99 of Fig. l. j Fig. lO'is a section' of the burner on line 101O of Fig. 2.

- F 11 is a view partly in section of a suitable liandcran for association with the elevating mechanism shown inv Fig. 7.

My improved mechanism is generally arranged on a suitable standard or frame 1 with a bottom 2, an intermediate horizontal partition 3, and a top at; providing a lower compartment 5 and an upper compartment 6 below and above the central partition 3. Accessis afforded to the lower compartment 7 5 by means of a door 7 formed in one side of the enclosing housing 8 and access may be had to the upper compartment 6 by means of a removable plate 9, preferably positioned on the top 10 of the upper housing 11. g

In the lower compartment 5 I provide a gear reduction unit 12 which is adapted to be directly orindirectly' connected with a elevation motonnot shown, andhas a driven shaft 13 cross section and the lower ends of the tubes 22 and 23 extend thru the horizontal flange thereof and are threaded into unions 29 which also connect with the vertical portions of elbows 30. The horizontal portion of the el bows may have collars 31 which seat in the vertical web of the cross head and are adapted .to connect with flexible tubes 32 leading to a commonsource of fuel supply for burners 33 whichare mounted on the upper ends of the tubes 22 and 23. Said burners will be hereinafter more fully described. V

As shown in Fig. 2, which is typical of both tubes 22 and 23, said tubes are provided with loosely mounted beveled gears 3% which mesh with and are driven by smaller gears 35 car.-

| I n c n n r a med on horizontal shaits on which are ournaled in upright bearings 37 on the base 21. The shafts 36 are operatively connected with the driving shaft 17 by pairs of beveled gears 38 and 39 which are lined to the shafts 36 and 17 respectively for rotating the gears Each ofthe sealing units 40 and ll embraces a pair of vertically spaced plates 42 and 43 which are spaced apart'and connected by means of a plurality of spacers le which receive screws 45 adapted. to be threaded into the spacers as shown. in Fig.v 2. The lowermost plate as of each of the sealing units is disposed within the compartment 6, while the uppermost plates of said units are disposed above the top 10 of the housing 11. A plurality of vertical shafts l6, l6 etc], are rotatably supported in the plates l2 with set 001- lars 4:7 thereon abutting the upper sides of said plates, and extend upwardly thru and are rotatably held in t re upper plates l3. The upper portions of the shafts 46 are arranged to detachably support a plurality of ampul sockets 18, e8, etc, of varying size. To this end said socket members are provided with bores 19 which receive the upper ends of the shafts 16 and carry set screws 50,

whereby the socket members may be caused to rotate with the shafts e6.

. The socket members as are also provided with sockets 51 open at their upper ends for receiving the ampuls 52, 52 etc.

- The lower ends of the'shafts 46 below the "plates l2 carr )lanetar ears 53 53 etc. .l. e: 7 7 I which mesh with and are driven by central sun gears 5a which are loosely mounted on the tubes 22 and 2-3 and are connected with the gears 3st by means of a key, pin, or the like 55,.sothat the sealing units will rotate with the gears 34. Thus during the rotation of the gears 34 the sealing units, including the plates 42, and a3 and gears 54, will be caused to rotate about the axes of the tubes 22'and 23, and the gears 53 and shafts et6 will also be rotated about the axes of said tubes.

Means is provided, however, for stopping the rotation of the sealing units about the axes of the tubes 22 and 23 for variable periods of time, during which the sealing of the ampuls 52 is elfected, and during such periods the gears 53 and shafts 46, socket members 48, and ampuls 52, are rotated relative to the sun gears 54: and plates 42 and 43 for successively presenting different portions of the ampul necks 52 to the flame 53 of the burner 33, whereby the necks maybe fused and sealed effectively.

The operation of the sealing units 10 is controlled by means of a drum 56 which is fixed toa shaft 57 journaled in the bearings 18 and 20 of the base. Said drum is slidably connected with the shaft 57 by means of a key 56 engaging an elongated key-way 57 in the shaft. The drum 56 is cooperatively connected with a pair of parallellongitudinal shafts 58 and 59 journaled in the bearings 18, 19 and 20 of the base, as shown in Fig. 1.

Shaft 59 is provided with an arm 60 for association with each of the sealing units 40 and adapted to engage teeth 61, 61 etc,

formed'on the peripheries of the plates-l2 for intermittently stopping the rotation of the sealing-units. As shown in Fig. 9, shaft 58'carries an arm 62 which is fixed to the shaft and has a pawl 63 pivotallv mounted at 64 thereon for engagement with a h 64 on a collar 65 fixed to shaft 59. The chum 56 is slidable longitudinally on the shaft 57 and is adapted to be held in adjusted positions by means of a yoke 66. Said yoke may include a longitudinal bar 67 connected at its ends with arms 68 and 69. overlying the opposite ends of the drum and pivotally held on the shaft'57.

The corresponding extremities of the bear ings 18 and 20 of the base are arranged to support a longitudinal bar 70 which has a plurality. of grooves 71, 71 etc, therein adaptedto be engaged by one of the arms 68 or 69 of the yoke 66 for holding the drum in adjusted positions. Thedrum is provided with a plurality of sets of buttons or lugs 72 protruding from the periphery of the drum and circumferentially spaced apart thereon. For

instance, as seen in Fig. 1, the'drum may be for the purpose of registering a: selected series of the buttons 7 2 with the arm. As seen. in Fig. 9, when the drum 56 is rotated the buttons 72 of a selected series Will successively the shaft 59 in a counter-clockwise direction,

thus releasing the arms 60 from the plates 4:2 of the sealing units so that the teeth 61 of plates 42 may move by the arms 60. Said arms, however, will be quickly restored against the arcuate peripheral portions of the plates 42 for engagement with the succeeding teeth 61. It will be understood at this point that the friction between the gears 54 and 53 effects the rotation of the sealing units bodily, whereas when the arms stop the operation thereof the gears 53 will rotate. relative to the gears 5e.

By reason of the mechanism just described, succeeding ampuls 52 will be moved to and from sealing position in regular order and the ampuls will be rotated during the sealing operations for uniformly sealing the necks 52 thereof.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that motion is communicated to the drum shaft 57 from the drive shaft 17 thru a counter-shaft 7% which is journaled in the bearinglS of base 21. This operation is accomplished thru the medium of a train of reduction gears in cluding a gear 7 5 on counter-shaft 74 which. is driven by the pinion 76 -011 drive shaft 17. Gear T l also carries a pinion 77 which drives a large gear 7 8 on the drum shaft 57. Thus the speed of the drum shaft is substantially reduced as compared to the speed-of the drive shaft 17. The burners 33* include elbows 79 attached by means of'unions 8O tothe upper ends of tubes 22 and 2.3 and fittings 81 threaded onto the horizontal portions cf the elbows 79. The fittings 81 have extensions 83 which are kerfed horizontallyat 84 in such a manner that the kerfs will intersect conical counter-bores 85 on the inner sides of the fittings, and collars 82 are fitted over the extensions 3, thus providing restricted outlets 86 for gas which is admitted thru the passages 87 in the tubes 22 and 23 and the main burner passage88. f i r The particular type of burner is best adapted for the purpose of my invention, inas much as it provides a fish-tail flame.

Necessarily the ampuls loosely held in the sockets 51 of the members 48 and during the rotation of the ampuls about the axes of the tubes and23 and also about xes of the shafts 46 the ampuls tend'to in their sockets. Thus the provision ofia burner such asis shown. produces a substantially wide and spreadingflame so that at no time will the relatively small necks 52 of the puts be out of the range of the flame.

Reverting to the means for controlling the operation of the sealing units, attention is called to Fig. l, in which is shown means on the outer side of the bearing 19 of base 21 for norm-ally holding the rock shafts 58 and 59 in tension. Such means includes arms 89 and 89 fixed respectively to the shafts 58 and 59 and connected at their outer ends with tension springs 90 and91. The outer ends of saidsprings may be commonly connected to a pin or screw 92 extending outwardly from the bearing 19 and the movement of the shafts 58 and 59 may be limited inwardly by means of stop pins 93 and 94 respectively.

At a convenient position on the housing, preferably on the bottom of partition 3, I provide a pair of gas supply pipes 95 and 96 which are mounted in a bracket 97 and are adapted. to be connected respectively with a source of illuminating gas supply and a source of oxygen supply for obtaining the best results. An outlet is providedfrom each of said main gas pipes for each of the sealing units 40. Also for each of the sealing units provided in the machine I provide a mixing fixture 98 suitably attached at a convenient position to the frame. 1 of the machine and adapted to be connected by means'of tubes 99 and 100 with the main gas and oxygen pipes 95 and 96 respectively. 'The mixing fixtures 98 are also connected with the flexible tubes 32 associated with eaclr'of the burners 33 and are further provided with separate needle valves l0land102 associated ith the inlet pipes 99 and 100, respectively, from the gas and oxygen'supply pipes. Thus the relative volumes of oxygen and gas admitted to the mixing chamber 98 thru the tubes 99 and 100 are controlled by the operation of valves i201 and 102, and said gases in properly mixed volumes are delivered thru the flexible tubes 32 and the tubes 22 and 23 to the burners 33.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 that the sealing units 40 are so mounted with respect to the top 10 of thehousing llthat the tubcs22 and 23 and the burners 33 may be elevated relative to the plates 42 and 43. The plates l 8, as indicated in Fig. 2, are just above the top 10 of the housing 11. The adjustment of the burners 33 is necessary for accommodating, the machine to ampuls of di-fi'erentheight and'sizesothat the tips of the necks 5..- of the ampuls will be disposed in the plane of the flame 53 emanating from the burners I haveprovicled means. as shown in Figs.

2 and 7, for simultaneously elevating a plurality-of burners to a common extent for the aforenained purpose. This means includes a pair of vertically disposed longitudinally spaced screws 103 and 104 which are jour- I a longitudinal shaft 115. Said shaft is jour-- naled in the end 109 of the housing and in a portion 116 of the bracket 108, and is provided externally of an end of the housing with a collar 117 having a protruding pin 118 thereon. The collar 117 is adapted to detachably receive the hand crank 119 with a handle 120 on the free end thereof and a socket member 121 on the other end thereof provided with a socket 122 forslidably re- 0 iving the collar 117 andlongitudin a1 slots 123 in the walls-of the socket for engagement with the pin 118. The screws 103 and 104 are threaded into bosses 26 and 27 formed on the opposite extremities of the cross head 28 which carries the tubes 22 and 23. Thus the shaft 115 is rotated by means of the crank 119 the cross head 28 and tubes 22 and 23 and-burners 38 will be elevated or lowered to correspond to the height of the ampuls 52.

What I claim is:

1. An ampulsealing machine including a burner, a rotatable sealing unit adjacent the burner, means for alternately rotating and stopping the rotation of. said sealing unit for pie-determined periods of time, means for supporting a series ofampuls on the sealing unit for successive presentation to the burner, and means for varying the periods of rotation and non-rotation for the purpose described.

2. An ampul sealing machine comprising a burner, ampul supporting means, means for successively moving a plurality of ampuls into and from position adjacent the burner for fusing and sealing the ampuls, and means for adjusting the ampul supporting means for varyingthe periods of time the ampuls are held insealing position.

3. An ampul sealing machine comprising a non-rotatable burner, a plate coaxially mounted and rotatable relative to said burner for supporting a plurality of ampuls, means for rotating said plate so as to move successive ampuls intoand from sealing position relative to said burner,and means for adjusting the plate rotating means so as tovary the periods of time the ampuls are held in sealing position. ,j

4. An ampul sealing machine comprising a non-rotatable fuel supply tube, means for adjusting said tube vertically, a burner con nected with the upper end of said tube and disposed horizontally a circular plate co-' axially mounted and rotatedrelativeto said tubebelow said burner for supporting a plurality of ampuls near the periphery thereof, means for intermittently rotating said plate so as to move successive'ampuls to and from sealing position adjacent said burner, and means for vertically adjusting said burner and its supporting tube to correspond to the. Va 'iation in height of the ampuls supported on said plate.

5. An ampul sealing machine as characterized in claim 4, including means for adjust ing said plate rotating means to vary the periods of time the ampuls are held in sealing position.

6. An ampul sealing machine comprising a burner, an intermittently rotatably plate coaXially mounted with said burner, means for alternately rotating and stopping the rotation' of said plate for given intervals, means on said plate for. supporting a plurality of ampuls whereby the ampuls may besucces sively moved'to and from sealing position adjacent said burner, means for rotating said ampuls during a sealing operation, and means for varying the periods of time re quired for the sealing operation.

7. An ampul sealing machine comprising a non-rotatable burner, a plate rotatable relative to said burner and provided with a plurality of holders arranged'at regularly spaced intervals concentric with the burner for supporting a plurality of ampuls at corresponding elevations continuously thruout a revolution of said plate, means for rotating said plate and said ampnls so as to move 9. Anampul sealing machine comprising 1 a burner, coaxially mounted plate for supporting a plurality of ampuls preparatory to a sealing operation and rotatable relative to said-burner, means for intermittently rotatingsaid plate so as to present successive ampuls to the burner for successively sealing the same,'and means for rotating said ampuls independently of'said plate when the plate is prevented from rotation during the sealing operations.

10. An ampul sealing machine as characterized in claim 9, including means for varying the non-rotative periods of said plate, for the purpose described. 7 V

11. An ampul sealing machine comprising a rotatable sealing unit, means normally tending to rotate said unit, intermittently operable means for stopping the rotation of said unit for variable periods of time. a plurality of holders mounted on said unit for supporting ainpuls preparatory to and dun ing a sealingoperation, and a burner fixedly supported at a point adjacent the path of said ampuls, said sealing unit arranged to move successive ampuls into and from and to hold the same in sealing position.

12. An ampul sealing machine comprising a plurality of sealing units each arranged to operatively support a plurality of ampuls, burners adjacent each of said units, and means for successively moving the ampuls of each unit into and from sealing position adjacent the associated burners, means for holding the ampuls in sealing position for predetermined variable periods of time, and means for rotating the ampuls during the sealing periods.

13. An ampul sealing machine comprising a power driven shaft, an ampul sealing unit rotatably connected with said shaft and provided with means for supporting a plurality of ampuls in sealing position thereon, and means controlled by said power driven shaft for stopping the rotation of said sealing unit for variable periods of time, for the purpose described.

14. An ampul sealing machine comprising a power driven shaft, a rotatable sealing unit operatively connected therewith and for supporting a plurality of ampuls in sealing position thereOn, gearing connecting said sealing unit with said shaft for rotating said unit, means for stopping the rotation of said unit for variable periods of time, said gearing operatively connecting said ampuls with said power operated shaft for effecting the rotation of the ampuls when the rotation of the sealing unit is stopped during successive sealing operations.

15. An ampul sealing machine comprising a power driven shaft, a rotatable sealing unit operatively connected with said shaft for supporting a plurality of ampuls in sealing position, a burner having a fixed position relative to said sealing unit, said sealing unit being rotatable for moving successive ampuls to and from sealing position adjacent said burner, means for stopping the rotation of said unit during the sealing intervals, and manually adjustable means for varying the sealing interval as described.

FRED C. DE LANO. 

